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— Over the last 20 years in Bay Area sports, who is more shocking and surprising than this season’s 49ers?

No-o-o-o-body!

Right? Wrong!

I hereby induct the 49ers into my imaginary Bay Area Phenom Team Hall of Fame. But they join two other teams: the 2010 world champion Giants and the 2006-07 We Believe Warriors.

As the Hall’s curator and lone voter, let me explain the criteria: A team has to come out of nowhere, wildly overachieve, create a huge Bay Area-wide buzz and have lovable and improbable heroes.

A quick word about two teams that missed the cut.

The 2002 Raiders had nice elements, but they were 10-6 the previous season and had an elite quarterback/leader in Rich Gannon. So their march to the 2003 Super Bowl was not an eye-popping shocker.

The 2002 Moneyball A’s won 20 in a row and got to the playoffs (first-round knockout), but they weren’t as ragtag as the movie makes ‘em out to be. They had phenomenal pitching and the big-stick duo of Miggy and Chavvy (Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez).

To get into my Hall, you need shock and awe. You need heroes suddenly appearing from out of the fog. You need to defy logic. And you must have fun.

Let’s break down our three honored teams into some arbitrary categories.

Best coach/manager

The knee-jerk answer is Jim Harbaugh, the greatest miracle worker since Bill Walsh. But how about a little love for Don Nelson, for that one golden season? Nellie, pulled out of retirement by Chris Mullin, promised the Warriors would make the playoffs and delivered, on the final day.

Harbaugh’s most amazing feat has been the creation of Alex Smith. But Nelson took two knuckleheads, Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, and turned them into dynamic team leaders. Jackson, captain-ized by Nelson, went from shooting up strip clubs to shutting down Dirk Nowitzki. Davis formed and presided over a players’ book club, for god’s sake.

Best newcomer

Nobody touches Buster Posey, who was called up from the minors and had one of the most impactful rookie seasons in baseball history. The way Posey took charge of a superstar pitching staff while learning how to strap on the catcher’s gear was mind-boggling.

Aldon Smith rates super-honorable mention. He has been a huge factor for the 49ers, pumping new life into the pass rush. When you analyze the changes that morphed a good defense into the NFL’s best, you start with Smith.

Player whose season would make the best movie

Andres Torres would be a tear-jerker of a flick, with this genial gentleman finally learning how to hit, and filling a void in center field, after battling ADHD.

A Jackson movie would be colorful, with the strip-club shootouts, gun/prayer tattoos and wild times off the court.

But the movie nod goes to Alex Smith, because even Hollywood wouldn’t have to embellish Smith’s inspirational emergence.

Greatest snapshot moment

For the Giants, I go with Posey, in the NLCS vs. the Phillies, short-hopping the laser from center fielder Aaron Rowand and sweep-tagging the sliding Carlos Ruiz. Stunning artistry.

For the 49ers, I choose a hug, and take your pick: Harbaugh hugging Alex Smith as he came off the field at the end of the first game. Or Harbaugh hugging a sobbing Vernon Davis last game. Hugging! I hear Tommy Lasorda is demanding royalties.

Ah, but the best poster shot of all is Davis cruelly dunking on Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko. Davis simultaneously slams with his right hand and smashes the Utah forward in the chops with his left elbow.

Best leading man

For the Giants, co-stars Posey and Tim Lincecum.

For the Warriors, has to be Davis, with his swagger and Boom Dizzle-dazzling floor leadership.

For the 49ers, the leading man is that lunatic who keeps asking the players, “Who’s got it better than us?”

Best old warhorse

Frank Gore for the 49ers, Aubrey Huff for the Giants, Nelson for the Warriors.

Guy Who Best Conveyed the Soul of the Team to the Outside World

This is not to be confused with Best Quote Guy. It goes deeper.

For the Warriors, Nelson. He could be stunningly honest, since he did so little editing of his own thoughts when he spoke. One minute he’d say he loved a player, next minute he’d describe a player as urinating on himself.

For the 49ers, Donte Whitner provides a lot of insight into the team. But Harbaugh, who often is closed off to the outside world, gives us a lot because he doesn’t even try to restrain his admiration for his players.

The best of all is Brian Wilson. An attention-craving goofball, no doubt, but Wilson is a very smart fellow who loves and admires his teammates and doesn’t mind discussing his team with the outside world.